Monday, August 18, 2008

A Group Effort

The season begins the same way every year. Like moles emerging from the earth, cyclists crawl out from the confines of their basements, spinning classes, and lone winter workouts. Everyone has the same intention: get out, join the group ride, and connect with fellow riders. For some, it's another season, picking up right where they left off with the last. For others, it's their first season riding with a group; they struggled through the last season, building form and fitness and a comfort that comes from long hours on the bike. For newbies, there may be apprehension to join the mix, especially the bubbling, swirling brew that makes up the group at higher speeds. Novel to them are the rules of group etiquette, how to ride in a paceline, how to move about in the field, and how to play nicely with others.

Here are a few rules I like to follow when out with 65 of my closest friends:

A paceline is an effort to save energy - When riding in a paceline, remember the effort is intended to benefit the group; to ride faster than you would as an individual at a reduced effort and provide you time to recover immediately following a hard effort. When it is your turn to pull through, stay consistent in speed and take your pull smoothly. Once you pull through to the front of the return line, ease up the effort every so slightly to allow the next rider an easy merge in front of you. This helps to keep the flow of the group smooth and eliminates the need to chase down the rider in front. Again, the whole purpose of the paceline is to work as a group.

Avoid surges - Surges are short, abrupt increases in speed. They waste everyone's energy and require the group to constantly reestablish the rotation.

Be a good wheel - This is a broad statement, but apply it as you will. To me, this means, keep a steady flow when riding with others, no herky-jerky, yo-yo moves. Keep the power distribution smooth, and soft pedal to control your speed and time yourself so you don't have to use your brakes unless it's absolutely necessary. Avoid bumps and holes in the road by giving the riders behind you fair warning. In some cases this means a subtle point or a verbal cue "hole," but try to reduce the amount of shouting, it creates confusion and no-one likes the startle effect it can produce. When you're at the front and responsible for the group behind you, look ahead, and when an obstacle approaches, give the group the benefit of a smooth lateral movement that begins 10 seconds in advance. This way there is a smooth avoidance. As a rider behind, watch the riders in front of you and mimic their line if you trust the wheel in front of you. A trusted wheel is sure to avoid obstacles.

Shoulder check - As you pull through to the front of the pace line know where your back wheel ends. Coming in too close to the rider behind you can spell the end of half of the group's season. Pulling in a bike length ahead at the front of the group means everyone has to chase to close the gap you have just created and this creates undue work.

Euphoria strikes when the speeds are high and a group of riders synchronizes their efforts (especially when the effort is difficult and the oxygen flow is strained). If you want to witness the perfect paceline, watch a Tour when the team time trial is the order of the day. A properly executed paceline can be a magical experience.

A succinct, mature explanation. Your use of key phrases is very helpful to center awareness by keeping those terms in mind while riding. I'll focus on "avoiding surges" being "a trusted wheel" while with the group.

Any ideas on how to convince fit riders not to suck wheel while others work, then jump out on the climb for a moment of masturbatory glory?

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Belgium Knee Warmers Defined

For many professional cyclists the Spring campaign is the toughest of the season; it means training from October until March in the worst, character-building weather conditions Europe can dish out. This weather and the suffering that is bicycle racing breed characters known as "hardmen".

Select cyclists tackle these conditions in shorts, long sleeve jerseys or short sleeve jerseys with arm warmers, wind vests, and shoe covers. A true hardman opts to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead chooses an embrocation to cover the knees. The liniment provides warmth for the legs and keeps the blood circulating and muscles supple. Embrocation and the sheen created is affectionately known as "Belgium knee warmers". The hardest of cyclists will sport bare legs in the most ruthless of conditions.

Belgium Knee Warmers are indicitive of the many subtleties that make professional cycling so enthralling.

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Profile

I spent 20 years of my life working in the bicycle industry, turning wrenches and selling bikes for some of the industry's best shops. I have extensive experience designing and constructing frames in both steel and titanium and have performed thousands of bike fits. I am passionate about bicycles in all forms. The bicycle provides me with physical and mental health and taps me into a social pipeline that allows me to share my passion with others. I ride as often as possible and love the flow of a hard group ride. Check back for musings about all things road cycling and, especially, the Spring Classics. The devil is in the details and I am an expert in the useless minutia that makes up our discipline.